Participants: Walter Pearson
Series Code: 14SCM
Program Code: 14SCM000019S
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00:36 Walter Pearson is going to be our speaker this morning
00:39 and most of you realize Walter has really battled back 00:44 from a very severe stroke. 00:48 And he is so loved 00:52 by the viewers of 3ABN. Amen! 00:55 When he was pastoring in Atlanta 00:59 a church from another denomination 01:02 came and tried to hire him to be their pastor. 01:08 He said: "Don't you know what I believe? " 01:10 And they said: "Yes! " 01:12 He said: "Well, I don't think you could afford me. " 01:16 Now you know our pastors don't make a whole lot of money folks. 01:21 And they said: "Well try us. " 01:25 He said: "Well, I'd like a few hundred thousand. " 01:28 He named an amount of money. 01:30 "And I want two Mercedes Benz. " 01:35 'Cause he was just kind of testing them, you know. 01:39 "And I want an education allowance. 01:42 I want a house allowance. " He named that... 01:45 and a pretty big house. 01:48 And when he got through they looked at him and said: 01:51 "Pastor, you don't know what you're worth. 01:54 We'd give you twice that. " 01:58 And so he just said: "You know I've got to preach 02:02 the truth. I've got to preach what I preach. " 02:06 And he said: "Thank you, but I will stay with my brethren. " 02:11 And he's been given honors, preaching at some great 02:17 great seminaries around the country. 02:19 And we're going to hear him in a moment 02:23 and we will be blessed. 02:26 I remember Danny mentioned this girl when she was 02:29 eleven years old. I remember at least when she was 12 02:34 and hearing her sing. 02:39 And I said: "God has blessed this young lady 02:42 not only with a voice but with a love for Jesus. " 02:47 And this is Melody Shelton Firestone 02:51 and she's going to sing for us He'll Find A Way. 02:55 Thank you, Melody. 03:15 At times the load is heavy, 03:19 at times the road is long 03:23 when circumstances come your way 03:27 and you think you can't go on. 03:32 When you're feeling at your weakest 03:36 Jesus will be strong... 03:40 He'll provide an answer. 03:43 When you've found all hope is gone 03:47 He'll find a way. 03:54 Oh, I know that if He can paint the sunset, 04:00 put the stars in place... 04:04 I know if He can raise up mountains 04:09 and calm the storm-tossed waves, 04:13 and if He can conquer death forever 04:17 to open heaven's gates 04:21 then I know for you 04:24 I know for you 04:28 He'll find a way. 04:37 At times your heart is breaking 04:42 with a pain that's so intense. 04:45 All you hold are broken pieces 04:50 to a life that makes no sense. 04:54 He wants to lift you up and hold you... 04:58 mend each torn event. 05:03 He'll pick up the pieces 05:06 that you thought had all been spent. 05:09 He'll find a way. 05:17 For I know that if He can paint the sunset, 05:23 put the stars in place, 05:26 I know if He can raise up mountains 05:31 and calm the storm-tossed waves, 05:35 and if He can conquer death forever 05:40 to open heaven's gates 05:44 then I know for you 05:47 I know for you 05:51 He'll find a way. 05:59 And if He can conquer death forever 06:05 to open heaven's gates 06:09 then I know for you 06:12 I know for you 06:16 He'll find a way. 06:22 He'll find 06:24 a way. And if He 06:30 can conquer death forever 06:34 to open heaven's gates 06:38 then I know for you 06:41 He'll see you through... 06:44 He'll find a way. 06:50 He'll find 06:53 a way. 07:00 Amen. 07:02 Let's pray. Father, I didn't think I'd be back here 07:07 and I thank you, Father... I thank you. 07:11 I thought it was all over 07:14 but You gave me another chance 07:17 and I appreciate it. 07:19 So I thank you for Your blessings in the name of Jesus, 07:23 Amen. Amen. 07:26 Folk, we have an amazingly- difficult job ahead of us. 07:31 I wish I could bring you one of those happy, 07:34 pat-you-on-the-back messages 07:36 but it's too late. Time is almost gone 07:40 and we've got a job to do. 07:42 Some of us act like this is business as usual. 07:46 It is not! The world has changed in the last few years 07:51 and it's changing as I speak. 07:53 And it's not getting better... it's getting harder and colder. 07:59 The Bible says in Matthew chapter 24... 08:04 Matthew chapter 24 verse 12 says: 08:08 "And because iniquity shall abound the love of many 08:12 shall wax cold. " 08:14 That's what has happened but our job has not changed. 08:19 Situations have changed but God expects us 08:23 to tell people about His love before it's too late. 08:27 Amen. 08:28 And I like the job, but it's just getting more difficult. 08:32 People don't want to hear it anymore. 08:35 Their minds are on something else. 08:38 In fact, they did a survey not many years ago and found out 08:42 that there's only one language that works all around the globe, 08:47 and that language is the language of the hip-hop culture. 08:51 Everybody knows that one. 08:54 People don't understand pastors or teachers any more. 08:59 It's as though we're speaking a foreign language. 09:02 But I know a God who on the Day of Pentecost 09:07 gave a gift to His followers so that everybody could hear them 09:12 in their own language. Amen. 09:16 I am one of those people who believes that the miracle of 09:19 Pentecost was not a miracle of speaking 09:22 but a miracle of hearing. 09:24 God has been so good to me that I want to tell everybody. 09:28 And I do. I was at my church one Sabbath 09:32 and one of my left-over problems from my stroke 09:37 came to me and I actually couldn't go on with my sermon. 09:43 I had to stop. Somebody in the church called 09:47 the paramedics, and they came to get me. And I said: 09:50 "No, you can go ahead now. " 09:52 And the guy said: "Well no, I've got to take you. " 09:55 I said: "Well somebody beat you here 09:58 and I'm doing fine. " 10:01 He said... 10:07 He said: "I understand what you mean, pastor, 10:10 but I've got to do my job. " 10:11 My wife will tell you that on the way to the hospital 10:14 in the ambulance I told them about my faith, 10:18 what I believed, and about the holy Sabbath 10:21 and he got interested in that short ride. 10:25 He said: "I'm going to come back to your church. " 10:26 I said: "I'll make you keep that promise. " 10:30 I don't know whether he's been back, but any Sabbath he comes 10:33 I'm ready for him. 10:36 Amen? Amen. 10:38 So our job is difficult but it's not impossible. 10:41 People have gotten cold-hearted. 10:44 There used to be a time when they wanted to hear truth. 10:47 Now they want to hear anything but truth. 10:51 However, you and I have a promise. 10:55 And the promise that God has made to us lets me know 10:59 that we're going to be able to do the job that He left for us. 11:02 Our job is described in Matthew 24 and verse 14. 11:08 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all 11:11 the world for a witness unto all nations 11:14 and then shall the end come. " 11:17 We can't go home until we've told everybody about Jesus. 11:21 But to me that doesn't represent a challenge so much 11:25 as a joy. I love to talk about Jesus. Amen! 11:30 He's the best thing that ever happened to me. Amen! 11:34 And so if you give me a few minutes I'll start weaving Him 11:37 into the conversation 'cause I love to talk about Him. 11:41 And I believe, my friends, that the only way in this difficult 11:46 culture that we're going to be able to keep that job 11:50 is by calling for the promise of the Holy Spirit. 11:57 Ellen White says that too often we don't 12:01 pray for the Holy Spirit. 12:03 But I want to say to my friend Pastor Jim Gilley 12:08 and to my friend Danny Shelton 12:11 this Camp Meeting, I believe, is history. 12:15 It's a part of history. I think we are at a change point. 12:19 I've heard some sermons here with such wonderful content 12:23 that they are the best I've ever heard. 12:26 Amen! 12:28 And I think this Camp Meeting is going to make a difference 12:31 in the culture of our church. 12:34 In fact, I believe when we look back on it in a few years 12:38 we're going to say: "That was the beginning. That's when we 12:41 started changing. " And the one thing that I believe will change 12:46 is that we're going to experience the outpouring 12:49 of God's Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain. Amen! 12:56 We don't have the power today to do what we need to do, 12:59 but God is holding the power... more willing to give it to us 13:03 than a father is to give a good gift to his child. 13:07 All we've got to do is ask. 13:09 And I think it's time for us to start changing our prayers 13:13 and asking for the gift of the Latter Rain 13:16 so that we can do what we promised God we would. 13:19 And I believe that this Camp Meeting is a turning point 13:24 in our church's history. 13:26 I think that things will change 'cause when you go home 13:30 you're going to pray for the Holy Spirit. 13:32 I know you are. You couldn't come here and stay this long 13:36 and go home unchanged. That's right! 13:40 So I know that it is challenging these days. 13:44 There are some people who are indifferent to God; 13:47 some people who are turned against God; 13:51 some people who are in rebellion against God. 13:55 But when the Holy Spirit is poured out in Latter Rain power 13:59 we're going to be able to reach all of them 14:02 because the power of the Holy Spirit can touch hearts 14:05 and change them. Amen. 14:07 I know that because God has allowed me to preach the gospel 14:11 around the world in every inhabited continent 14:15 and 69 countries and island nations of the sea. 14:20 I've been to some places I never thought I'd even know. 14:24 But I have preached the gospel. In fact, I say often 14:27 that I wish I could take before and after pictures. 14:31 Because I have met people... I couldn't speak their language 14:34 but I could look at their faces and tell something about them. 14:38 But when they got through hearing the Word of God 14:40 they didn't look the same. 14:42 The Word of God will change you. 14:45 So before you go out and get your facelift 14:51 get in the Word of God real deep. 14:54 Let Jesus do a job on you. Amen! 14:58 And it won't cost you anything. 15:01 The cost for your facelift is already paid. 15:05 And when you look at Jesus' love again 15:09 you'll look better... I promise you. 15:12 Amen! And you won't have to go back again and get it adjusted 15:16 'cause Jesus adjusts it every day. Amen? Amen! 15:21 That's what we've got to be about, folks. 15:23 We've got to be about our Father's business - 15:26 Amen - spreading this word all over the world. 15:29 And you know and I know that 3ABN is a big part of that 15:34 because what we have experienced here at Camp Meeting 15:38 has gone already around the world. 15:41 There are people who have heard everything you've heard. 15:43 Now my question is: what are you going to do about it? 15:47 There are some folk who heard it the first time 15:50 this week, and they're going to do something about it. 15:53 How about you? You look like you're ready to do something. 15:57 One of my friends who is a pastor of another denomination 16:00 said to me: "You know, Pearson, 16:03 your people look so intelligent. 16:06 They look like they're really on top of things. " 16:09 He said: "But sometimes I found out that even though 16:12 my people don't look as intelligent 16:14 they're ready to go to work for Jesus right now. 16:17 Your folks just kind of sit there and look intelligent. " 16:24 And the reason why I hated that remark is because 16:27 I found it to be true. God has blessed us so much 16:31 that we look like we could do anything. And some of us just 16:34 sit there and look like we could do anything. 16:38 It's time for us to stop sitting looking like we could do 16:40 anything and by the power of the Holy Spirit do anything. 16:44 Amen! Do everything. 16:46 Because as soon as that's over then the end will come 16:51 and we'll go back home to live with Jesus. Amen! 16:54 The Bible says: "The eye seeing seeth not, 16:59 the ear hearing heareth not what God has prepared 17:02 for His children. " But if you read that text real carefully 17:06 it says: "But the Spirit tells us a few things. " 17:10 Every now and then I hear God talking about what heaven 17:14 is going to be like. Well, I tell you what: 17:17 there is a hint. If Jesus could make earth in 6 literal days 17:23 and it be so beautiful, what do you think heaven's going to be 17:26 like? He's been working on it for 2,000 years. Amen! 17:30 I want to be there. Amen! 17:33 I've heard one interpretation that we're going to have 17:35 resting places... mansions. That's OK with me. 17:39 I think I could deal with a mansion... 17:41 especially one that doesn't have a mortgage. 17:47 Then another interpretation says: "In My Father's house 17:50 there are many rooms. " And I like that one 'cause that means 17:54 I'll be down the hall from Jesus. 17:57 Be down the hall from you, too... probably. 18:00 So if you don't love me today you'd better adjust 18:06 'cause you're going to be down the hall from me. 18:08 You'll run into me just about all the time. 18:12 We had better learn how to love each other, what do you think? 18:14 Amen! So we have a job to do. 18:19 We don't have the power to do it, 18:21 but God has the power holding for us. 18:25 And it's time for us to start praying sincerely 18:28 that God will pour out His Spirit on us 18:31 because the Holy Spirit can do anything. 18:35 There is nothing that the Holy Spirit can't do. 18:39 And God is more willing to give the Holy Spirit 18:42 than we are to ask. And let's stop our reluctance, 18:47 let's get our power, what do you say? Amen! 18:50 I have done meetings where I wished for power. 18:53 Many times I go to a new city 18:56 and the people have already said: "Pastor, when you get here 19:00 we're going to have a big crowd for you. " 19:02 And I go to a big auditorium that holds about 20,000 people 19:07 and sitting in front of me about 20 people. 19:11 Now I've learned something. I don't get disturbed 19:14 'cause I know what the Holy Spirit can do. 19:16 Amen! So I just start praying about it. 19:19 And God will take those twenty and multiply them 19:24 so that every night instead of getting smaller 19:26 that number gets larger. 19:28 And God will eventually through the power of His Spirit 19:31 fill the place up. 19:33 I've learned that, so when I see an empty auditorium 19:36 doing evangelism I'm not disturbed... 19:39 I'm just excited about what I'm about to see 19:42 'cause I know God in His own way and His own time 19:46 will fill the place up. 19:48 There are times when I've come to the end of an evangelistic 19:51 meeting and didn't have enough people who had already decided 19:54 to be baptized and I'd say: "Oh, no, we're in trouble. 19:58 We're not going to have enough people. " 19:59 Then I remember who I work for. 20:02 All I did was ask God: "Turn the Holy Spirit loose 20:06 in this place. " And instead of having a small baptism 20:11 overnight God would change the terrain 20:15 and we'd have a baptism that was unbelievably large 20:18 because the Holy Spirit changes hearts. Amen! 20:22 I have been in the place where thousands of people 20:25 have been baptized, but I came to know 20:28 I was never the one who changed anybody's heart. 20:32 No word of mine has ever changed anybody 20:36 to believe in Christ. The only power that does that 20:39 is the power of the Holy Spirit. 20:41 But God is my father, and God sends the Holy Spirit 20:46 so all I've got to do when I get in a jam is 20:48 call "Daddy" - tell Him what I need. 20:52 And He dispenses the power and it gets done. 20:55 So I thank God that I've started off in some small places 20:58 with a small crowd... but God makes the difference. 21:02 And I know that if you and I would start doing what God 21:06 calls on us to do and asking for the Holy Spirit's power 21:10 we would do amazing things. 21:13 That tiny little Bible study that you start in your house 21:16 will get so big that you can't hold it in your house. 21:19 And I can tell you having been through this 21:22 that the greatest joy in the universe 21:26 is to watch somebody's eyes light up when they come to 21:29 love Jesus Christ. There is nothing else like it 21:33 in the universe. 21:35 No greater thrill; no greater joy. 21:38 In fact, when that has happened you won't be impressed by much 21:42 because when that light comes on in their eyes... 21:45 I started off not as a pastor but a Bible worker. 21:48 And I had some wonderful experiences talking to people 21:53 who started off saying: "I've never heard of you folks 21:55 before. " I'd tell them: "You don't need to hear about 21:59 us... you need to hear about Jesus. " Amen! 22:02 And by the time we got through studying the Word of God 22:06 those eyes would change. There's something that happens 22:09 in their eyes that they don't have to say. 22:11 In fact, they can be saying: "No, I don't want to be a part 22:15 of this, " shaking their heads this way. 22:17 But I look in their eyes and I see that light come on. 22:20 Say: "You sure you're not going to a part of this? " 22:23 "No, I'm not going to do it. " But the light says "yes! " 22:27 You didn't know that, did you? 22:30 It's something interesting to see. 22:32 But let me quit bugging with you. I came here for a reason 22:36 and the reason was to talk about the power of the Holy Spirit 22:39 to get our job done. 22:42 The question is: "Can we do this job? " 22:45 The answer is: "By ourselves? No, we can't do it. " 22:49 But with the power of the Holy Spirit "This gospel of the 22:54 kingdom shall be preached in all the world 22:57 for a witness to all nations 22:59 and then shall the end come. " Amen! 23:03 Now I don't know how in love you are with where you live. 23:07 Some of you are doing pretty well. 23:09 I can look at you and tell. 23:11 I've learned to study body language. 23:13 You can't tell me you're broke 'cause I can watch you 23:16 and tell how you walk. I know how poor people walk. 23:21 And I know how people walk who've got a little bit of 23:24 something in the bank. You folks are in good shape. 23:27 Of course, I had a hint in the parking lot... 23:33 but you know who you are. 23:38 And I'll tell you this: we're going to get this job done. 23:41 I am not pleased with this world any more. 23:44 I've been to some very nice places preaching the gospel. 23:48 In fact, you wouldn't imagine that I've been to such nice 23:51 places just preaching the Word of God. 23:54 I've slept in a bed made of pure gold. 23:58 Didn't sleep well. 24:03 I was wondering would anybody try to steal the bed. 24:10 I've seen some wonderful places, been in some beautiful houses, 24:14 had some good food... but I don't like the earth any more. 24:18 It's not my home. 24:21 I'm losing my fascination with it. 24:23 I'm ready to move to my REAL home. Amen! 24:27 I'm ready to go to my mansion or my room down the hall 24:31 from Jesus. Amen! And if we get this work done, 24:34 we can go. I like you and I'm glad to meet you here 24:39 but I'd rather meet you down the hall from Jesus. 24:42 Amen! So what do you say? Let's get this work done. 24:46 Amen! You can't do it by yourself, 24:48 but ask for your help. Call our father 24:52 and ask Him for the power to help. 24:54 And when we do that, we're going to get this job done. 24:57 You'll have a great time doing it 25:00 and when it's over we can go home to live with Jesus. 25:03 Amen. And I want to do it... how about you? 25:06 Amen! Praise God. 25:08 So then we know that we don't have the power 25:12 but we know that the power is available. 25:15 And God will... He'll be happy to send the Holy Spirit 25:20 to give us all the power that we need 25:22 so that you can see that light come on in the eyes. 25:26 It's a beautiful sight. 25:29 And I've seen thousands of people do it, and I never get 25:32 used to it. I get excited every time! 25:36 And I hope to do it quite a few more times 25:40 but I'm about ready to get to the end of it now 25:42 'cause I'm ready to go to my new home. 25:45 Amen? Amen! And the good news is that you and I 25:49 have another home. Amen! We're just kind of hanging out here. 25:53 We're here to do a job, but as soon as the job is done 25:57 we've got somewhere to go. 25:59 We've got places to go and people to see. 26:02 And I'm about ready for it, and I believe this Camp Meeting 26:05 has brought us closer to it and I'm excited about it. 26:09 I thank God for 3ABN 26:12 and the plans that God gave to them and what it's done for us. 26:16 I am excited about doing the job 26:19 and going back home to live with Jesus and I hope you are, too. 26:23 So today let's make up in our minds 26:27 that we can't do this job by ourselves 26:30 but we've got help and it's about time for us 26:32 to call for help. Now I'm a good guy to tell you about that 26:35 'cause I got introduced to the Holy Spirit in a kind of 26:38 different way. I preached my first sermon 26:42 when I was 13. I'm a little older than that now. 26:49 The M.V. Society... You remember that, don't you? 26:52 had some great plans. They were thinking outside the envelope 26:56 and they said: "You know what we ought to do? 26:58 We ought to go to the prison with the prison band 27:01 and one of us ought to speak to the prisoners. " 27:05 And I was listening and wondering how that was going 27:07 to turn out. They talked about it and talked about it. 27:10 Finally they said: "Well, who will speak to them? " 27:13 So you know... "I think Walter ought to be the one. " 27:22 But they had already said this was not a regular prison. 27:25 I can't remember the exact term, but they said either 27:29 a medium or a maximum security prison. 27:32 And I thought that meant that there were real criminals there 27:35 so I didn't want to be the one to speak to them. 27:38 But they finally took a vote and I was the one. 27:42 So I talked to my father. I said: "Dad, 27:45 can you get me out of this? " 27:47 He said: "No, I'm not going to get you out of this. I'm glad 27:49 that they chose you... I'm glad they chose you. " 27:52 I said: "But Dad, these folks... these are criminals! 27:55 I don't want to speak to criminals. I'm afraid of them. " 27:58 He said: "Well you don't have to be afraid of them. " 28:01 Well here's how it went: we got in cars 28:04 and went out to the prison. 28:06 When we got there they were finishing up a baseball game. 28:09 They were in the bottom of the 9th 28:12 and they were all excited. There were people all around 28:16 cheering. And the warden came out and said 28:19 "We're going to stop the game now. We've got a young man 28:23 who's going to preach to you. " 28:28 "Oh... 28:33 Tell him to go home. We don't want to hear him. " 28:36 I said: "Dad, you hear them? They're mad already. " 28:41 He said: "Son, you don't have to worry about that. 28:43 You just do what God told you to do. " 28:46 And I remember going into that room. 28:48 Wasn't a beautiful room; wasn't quite this big 28:51 but it was this full. 28:53 And I remember my knees actually smiting each other. 28:58 You folk talk about it all the time but you never had it 29:00 happen. I was so frightened my knees actually hit each other. 29:06 And I stood up before them and began my sermon. 29:10 At 13 it wasn't much of a sermon. 29:13 In fact, I can't remember what I said. 29:18 But while I was saying it six criminals got up 29:23 and started walking towards me. 29:26 I turned around. My dad was sitting on the podium behind me 29:30 and I went back to him. I said: "Dad, look. 29:33 I told you. See, I told you it's not going to be good. 29:39 Now look at them... they're coming after me. " 29:44 He said: "Son, go ask any one of them why they're coming. " 29:49 I said: "I don't want to talk to them. 29:52 These guys could be murderers... they could be anything. " 29:56 He said: "Just go ask one of them. " 29:58 And I took all the nerve I had. 30:01 I went to one of the guys who had gotten to the front 30:04 and I said: "Hey, how you doin' man? 30:06 Why'd you come up here? " 30:10 He said: "I want you to introduce me to Jesus 30:14 'cause I want my life changed. " 30:18 And I couldn't understand why that happened 30:22 but I've discovered since that it happened because 30:26 of the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen! 30:30 And every evangelistic meeting I've ever run 30:33 I've reminded myself of what happened when I was 13. 30:36 'Cause I couldn't do it... don't even know what I said. 30:40 But I do know that they started coming down to the front 30:43 without being called. Because I didn't have to call them 30:46 the Holy Spirit had called them. Amen! 30:49 And it's been like that for me for all these years that I've 30:53 been in the ministry. Forty-four years in the ministry 30:56 and it's been over and over and over again 30:58 I've seen the Holy Spirit change hearts 31:01 and draw people to Jesus. 31:03 We don't have to worry about anything in the future 31:06 because we know the power of God's Holy Spirit. 31:10 So I guess I'm the right one that they chose for today 31:13 'cause I know about the power. 31:15 I know what it is to be afraid. 31:18 I know what it is to think you don't have enough power. 31:20 But I know what happens when the Holy Spirit comes in 31:23 and everything is changed. 31:25 It's a changer when it happens. 31:28 I've been through the experience and I know what it feels like 31:33 to have somebody who you are afraid of say 31:36 "Introduce me to Jesus. " 31:38 And it's a great joy. And you and I will experience 31:42 that great joy as we come to the end of time. 31:46 And you and I will also be agents 31:50 used by the Holy Spirit to draw people to Jesus Christ. 31:54 And it's going to be a wonderful experience to do that. 31:57 But oh what a joy it will be when the end comes 32:01 when Jesus comes to save us. 32:06 When the sky passes away with a roar 32:10 and we look up and see clouds no more 32:13 but see Jesus coming in clouds. 32:17 He will not touch the earth but He'll just suspend there 32:21 first calling the dead in Christ 32:25 to arise from their graves. 32:27 And they will meet with Jesus. 32:30 And you know, I've heard some gospel songs 32:32 that say: "If you get there before I do... " 32:35 That's good gospel music but bad theology. 32:40 Nobody's going to get there before you do. 32:44 We're going to all meet Jesus on the cloud 32:47 and there we'll be with Him and take that trip with Him 32:51 back to glory where Jesus will swing that gate open wide 32:55 and we'll go in to be with Him forever and ever 32:59 and ever. The song says: "When we've been there 10,000 years 33:04 bright shining as the sun 33:07 we've no less days to sing His praise 33:09 than when we first begun. " 33:11 No more getting old. 33:13 Amen? Amen! Now some of you have been very kind 33:17 since I've been here. You said: "Oh, Elder Pearson. 33:20 You look as young as you did before. " 33:23 And I thank you for that kindness, 33:27 but it turns out that I have mirrors at home. 33:34 When you know Jesus, all that stuff that happens 33:38 doesn't make you look worse... makes you look better. 33:41 Amen! I met some dear saints who were very old 33:46 but they didn't look tired, they didn't look old. 33:49 They looked very gentrified... 33:54 they looked even wealthy 33:57 and they looked like they were settled in Christ. 34:02 So I thank you for being kind to me, 34:04 but I know what I look like 34:07 and I know both sides of reality. 34:10 I do look older but I do look better 34:15 'cause all these years I've tried to follow Jesus. 34:18 And when you follow Him He takes care of the wrinkles, 34:22 the gray hair, the hair that falls out 34:25 and all of that. Amen? Amen! 34:28 So you can look in the mirror and say: "Well... 34:30 for a guy my age I'm doing all right... OK. " 34:38 But our job is simple and we need to get to it. 34:43 We need to stop having quarrels. 34:48 People in God's church ought not to be quarreling 34:52 with each other. Amen! 34:55 Not only do we not have the time to quarrel with each other 34:57 but we don't have the resources to quarrel with each other. 35:01 You ought to be using all of that to talk about Jesus. 35:06 I remember one day I went to get my car repaired. 35:10 And you know how it is: you want to make them think 35:13 you know what they're doing. So I went back into the bay 35:17 with the man who was repairing my car 35:19 and I got under the car with him. 35:20 And I was looking at him like I knew what he was doing. 35:23 Didn't have a clue. 35:27 Then something awful happened. 35:29 He said: "Sir, while you're back here 35:34 I was wondering: do you know Jesus? " 35:38 I said: "Yes I do. In fact, I'm a pastor. " 35:42 He said: "Well I was going to tell you if you hadn't met Jesus 35:46 I know him and I was willing to introduce you to Him. " 35:49 I said: "Oh, no... 35:52 how could he beat me to that? 35:56 I'm back here acting like I understand what he's doing 35:58 with my car and missed the opportunity. " 36:01 And he got me first. He said: "It's wonderful. 36:05 I've known Jesus for a week now 36:07 and every day is better than the last. " 36:11 I said: "Well man, let me tell you something: 36:13 you just messed me up because I should have been 36:16 telling you that 'cause I've known Jesus for a long time 36:21 and I let you beat me to the punch. " 36:23 He said: "Well, you've got to be faster 36:28 'cause I'm excited. " And if you're excited about Jesus 36:32 you are fast, aren't you? 36:35 You tell everybody about Jesus. 36:37 There are some people who think this job can't be done. 36:41 They think we ought to give up on it. 36:45 But friends of mine, this job is already done. 36:50 The Lord has made it happen so. 36:54 There are people who are just waiting. 36:57 Somebody in your neighborhood is waiting on you 37:00 to come and talk to them about learning who Jesus is. 37:04 Now you don't know who it is 37:06 or else I guess you'd have been to them. 37:08 And you think they don't know Jesus. 37:11 But people don't need to put signs on their faces 37:14 or on their chests. There are people in your neighborhood 37:17 who may not act like they know Jesus but they do. 37:20 You let 'em get in a pinch and see who they call. 37:25 You may think that they're an atheist 37:27 but when they get in trouble they call Jesus. 37:31 "Oh, Lord... " And they're just waiting on you 37:36 to come and tell them what you know. 37:39 In fact, I was surprised when I read years ago 37:43 that when Jesus comes there are going to be people who lived 37:46 not far from us who are going to come to us and say 37:49 "You knew this all the time? " 37:52 "Did you know this? " "You knew He was coming? " 37:55 "You knew that we were going to have an opportunity to go 37:57 to heaven and you didn't tell me? 37:59 What kind of neighbor are you? " 38:01 "How could you keep this to yourself? " 38:04 And I wonder, too: how can you keep this to yourself? 38:08 If you get a good deal on a car, you tell all your friends. 38:12 If you get some good groceries at a good price, 38:16 you tell all your friends. 38:18 How can you keep the knowledge about Jesus to yourself? 38:21 It's the best thing that's ever happened to you. 38:24 How can you keep it to yourself? 38:26 It's a job that's wonderful to do. 38:29 I thank God for letting us be a part of it. 38:31 And I thank God today for being able to talk to you 38:35 about it because I never thought I'd be on a stage like this 38:39 again... but here I am. 38:42 I'm not as young as I was... I don't move as fast. 38:45 You remember I was the guy who was all across the stage. 38:49 You remember that, don't you? Amen! 38:52 Well while that lasted it was OK. 38:56 But the power was never in the moving across the stage. 39:01 The power was in the Holy Spirit. Amen. 39:04 And I have dedicated myself back to the Lord 39:07 and I think that God has put in my mouth 39:10 at least as much power as I ever had 39:12 to tell the truth about Jesus. 39:15 I can't move across the stage any more 39:17 but sitting right here in this one spot 39:19 I can do pretty good with the help of the Holy Spirit. 39:22 Amen! Every one of us can do pretty good with what we have. 39:27 And it is my plea to you today that you stop 39:31 doing business as usual. 39:34 That you let this Camp Meeting be a change point. 39:38 I've heard some sermons here that made me rethink everything 39:44 and I've decided that when I get back home 39:46 I'm going to be different. 39:48 So I hope the members of my church are still listening 39:51 'cause when I get back you're going to think I'm 39:53 out of my mind. 39:55 I've got programs for you that you won't believe 39:59 'cause we've got work to do, folks. 40:01 The people in Annapolis, MD, have got to know Jesus 40:05 and we are the ones who need to tell them. 40:08 So we're going to do it, and I'll get on your nerves 40:11 a little bit. But I'd rather get on your nerves 40:14 than to be outside of God's plan. 40:17 So be ready for me to get on your nerves 40:20 and I hope you get over it. 40:23 But if you don't... ehh... 40:31 God says: "I've got a power for you. " 40:35 And the power is like Jesus described to lord Nicodemus. 40:39 There are people who have studied the Bible 40:42 who believe that Jesus told lord Nicodemus 40:46 more in that one conversation that they had 40:49 by night than He told anyone else. 40:52 And He told Nicodemus about how the wind blows 40:56 where it wants to blow. You can't see it 41:00 but you can see what it does. 41:02 You don't know where it came from, 41:04 you don't know where it's going, 41:06 but you can tell what it did. 41:08 I was once in an evangelistic meeting 41:13 in a little town called Xenia, Ohio. 41:16 Xenia had had a tornado 41:19 and it tore the place apart. 41:23 I came a year later and put up my tent 41:26 and I was wondering why everybody was so nervous 41:29 standing outside. But one of my workers said: 41:34 "Did you know, pastor, when you chose this place 41:36 that they had a tornado last year? " I said: 41:39 "I guess I did. " Said: "Well I don't think they're 41:42 going to come in here. " Well they did. 41:46 God's power is more magnetic than the fear 41:50 of a tornado, so eventually they did come in. 41:55 Then one night the wind started blowing really hard 42:00 and this is going to sound funny but it's not a joke, 42:05 trust me. I was standing there and I said: 42:08 "Well I need to calm my folks down. " So I got my best voice 42:13 up, sounding my most authoritative 42:16 and I said: "Folk, you don't have anything to worry about 42:19 because Jesus can calm the wind. " 42:22 Amen. And some of their eyes were still big 42:27 so I said: "Don't you believe that He has the power? " 42:31 But they didn't change; they were still looking afraid. 42:34 Just about that time the back of my tent, the podium... 42:40 the back of the podium hit me across my shoulders. 42:44 And they say the next week the pastors in the area 42:47 had a wonderful time talking about that guy 42:50 who thinks he knows Jesus but his own tent beat him up. 42:58 Well, let me tell you the rest of the story. 43:01 After that, everybody in my tent ran except my wife 43:06 and my Bible counselor. 43:09 People ran out of the tent. 43:11 And I waited until they came back, and when they did 43:14 they said: "Pastor, let's take the tent down. " 43:18 I said: "No, we're not taking the tent down. " 43:21 Said: "Well why don't you take it down? 43:23 Nobody's going to come in here. 43:25 The tent hit you and if it'll hit you they think 43:28 it'll hit them. " I said: "Well, I tell you what let's do: 43:33 let's keep on with telling the truth and let God handle 43:37 the weather. " So I said: "Here's the rule we'll make: 43:43 any night that someone comes to hear the truth 43:46 we'll have a meeting. If nobody comes, we won't. " 43:50 Well some nights only one inebriated man - 43:55 that's just a $20 word to mean drunk - 43:59 he'd come every night. 44:02 And folks said: "Pastor, he doesn't understand what you're 44:05 saying... he's drunk. " 44:07 I said: "Yeah, but we made a rule: 44:09 if anybody comes, we'll keep on having the meetings. " 44:12 And that man came almost every night 44:16 so we had to keep on having meetings. 44:18 Sometimes he was the only one in the tent. 44:20 And they'd say: "Pastor, come on. We'll forgive you 44:24 if you stop tonight. Let's go home. 44:25 We can go home and relax. " 44:28 I said: "No, I'm going to keep my word to the Lord. " 44:30 And we ran in that meeting sometimes week after week 44:35 with only 1 person in that tent. 44:38 But when we got to the end something amazing happened. 44:42 I had run a meeting just a few miles away 44:46 the year before in another city 44:49 and there were some people who had heard the Word, 44:52 who had heard the gospel but they were not baptized. 44:56 On the Sabbath that we had designated for baptisms 45:00 when I was going to call for decisions 45:03 my staff told me again: "Pastor, you don't have to try 45:07 to impress us. We know you're dedicated. 45:10 Let's just take this tent down. " 45:12 I said: "No, let's see what God can do. " 45:14 While I was preaching on that day I saw some cars pull up 45:19 and people got out of those cars who I recognized. 45:23 Almost every one of them who got out 45:26 had been to the meeting that I had held the year before. 45:29 They already knew the truth. They just hadn't made up their 45:33 minds quickly enough. And twenty-one people 45:37 came into that tent who had already heard the message 45:41 who hadn't made up their minds. 45:43 And I made an appeal to the one drunk man 45:47 and the 21 others who already knew what I preached 45:51 and the 21 people decided to be baptized. 45:55 So out of a meeting with one drunk man coming 45:59 we baptized 21 people. 46:07 The most precious 21 I've ever baptized. 46:11 There have been meetings when I baptized a whole lot 46:13 of other folks, but none more precious than these 46:17 because they weren't there but while I was preaching 46:20 in faith they came. I don't know how they heard. 46:24 I don't know how they knew I was running another meeting 46:27 but they came and they decided to be baptized. 46:31 And God taught me another lesson: 46:33 "If you just do what I tell you, I'll make it right. 46:36 Let Me handle the results; you just do what I say. " 46:41 Is there anybody in this room who knows that works? 46:44 Amen. Praise God! 46:46 And I've learned that over and over again. 46:50 But we have not seen the greatest days yet. 46:54 I ran a meeting in a little town called Tema, Ghana, 46:59 in West Africa. 47:00 And I got the best response that I've ever gotten in one meeting. 47:06 Well, maybe not... I'll tell you about the other one. 47:09 But 600 people decided to be baptized. 47:14 Six hundred. Now the church that I was having the meetings for 47:20 had, I think, 15 members. 47:25 And we were about to baptize 600... 47:29 so figure that out. 47:32 How do you do the right hand of fellowship 47:34 when you've got 15 members of the church and you've got 47:36 600 joining? But we went out to the sea 47:41 and we stretched our pastors out and they baptized. 47:44 I would do the declaration and lift up my hand 47:48 and 15 pastors would baptize somebody. 47:51 We stayed there all afternoon and baptized 600 people. 47:56 There were another 300 who were ready to be baptized 48:00 but their tribes were afraid of the sea 48:03 so Saturday night we took them to the small churches, 48:07 divided them up, and baptized them in pools. 48:10 And the next day we had almost a thousand new members 48:15 of the church. Amen! And that was a wonderful day. 48:19 But that was not the best. 48:22 The best is yet to come. Amen! 48:26 I've been in some great meetings. 48:28 In fact, the one that you know most about is the one that we 48:32 called NET 2004. 48:34 Anybody remember that? We put a name to it. 48:38 We called it Experience the Power. 48:41 Folks, at the end of NET 2004 48:45 I have it on good authority 48:48 the people who were charged with the responsibility of 48:52 counting who got baptized 48:55 on that Sabbath from NET 2004 49:00 we baptized over 5,000 people. Praise God! 49:04 In one church the pastor had gone on vacation 49:09 and the people had come to see me on television 49:12 but there was nobody to make the appeal. 49:15 However, a local elder who had been gone for years 49:20 came back on that day and happened to be in the audience. 49:25 So when I said: "Pastors, would you stand up now 49:29 and call for baptisms" this elder came up to the front 49:32 of the church in Virginia and said: 'The pastor's not here 49:35 but I'm happy to take his place. " 49:37 And he made the call in that church for NET 2004 49:42 and over 150 people were baptized in that church 49:46 with a local elder who just happened to be there 49:49 on that Sabbath. That's a wonderful result, isn't it? 49:53 Amen. But that's not the best. 49:55 The best is yet to come. Amen! 49:58 We haven't seen the best. 49:59 I don't know what that meeting is going to look like 50:01 after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 50:04 After the Latter Rain has started, we're going to have 50:07 some meetings that are going to shock everybody. 50:09 In fact, I don't know how we'll keep count. 50:12 I know that God can keep count, 50:14 and that's the only One who counts. 50:16 But folk, we haven't seen the best. 50:19 You've got some meeting in the back of your mind 50:20 and you say: "That's the best I've ever seen. " 50:23 Well I've got news for you: the best is yet to come. Amen! 50:27 We haven't seen anything close to the best. 50:29 God's going to pour out His Holy Spirit 50:32 in Latter Rain force and things are going to change 50:36 so drastically. A small Bible study 50:41 that used to be so depressing for you 50:43 is going to turn into a shouting session 50:46 because people are going to hear the Word in just a few 50:49 minutes and make a decision to follow Jesus. 50:53 It's not going to be your power. "Not by might, 50:57 not by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord. " 51:01 And when the Latter Rain happens 51:03 we're going to see things that we have never ever seen before. 51:08 And I want to be in that so I'm going to hold on. 51:12 My brother-in-law is a great fan of sports. 51:19 And one day I went to visit him 51:23 and he was looking at a football game 51:29 that I had already seen. 51:31 And he would always brag about his knowledge of football. 51:36 And it was way better than mine 51:38 but today I knew I had him at a disadvantage. 51:41 I had already seen the game. 51:44 So we looked at it together. 51:47 We got all the way down to the fourth quarter 51:49 and he said: "Walter, let's go out and have some fun. 51:53 Let's go get something to eat 51:54 'cause we can see how this game is going to turn out. " 51:57 I said: "Well... I don't know. 51:59 I've just got a funny feeling about this game. " 52:03 He said: "What do you mean? 52:05 Your team has lost and you know it. " 52:07 We heard the 2-minute warning. He said: "Come on, man, 52:10 let's go eat. We know that you lost this time. " 52:13 I said: "Well, let's just wait. 52:16 Just maybe something will happen. " 52:18 'Cause I remembered what happened in the game. 52:20 In the fourth quarter after the 2-minute warning 52:23 the quarterback... you know how they do when they try to be 52:27 poetic... and he turned that ball loose 52:30 and it went through the air straight... didn't wobble 52:33 like it was put on a wire. 52:36 And the receiver was almost in the end zone 52:39 and he put up his hands like he had radar in the back 52:42 of his head and caught the ball. 52:45 And in the fourth quarter that team won. 52:49 So I told my brother-in-law, I said: "Man, I've just got a 52:51 feeling. " He said: "Well Walt, you don't know that much about 52:54 football. " I said: "Yeah, I know I don't 52:56 but I've got a feeling about this one 53:00 so humor me... let's just watch it. " 53:04 And of course you know what happened. 53:07 He said: "Man, how did you know? " 53:09 I said: "Well, I don't know, man. I just... there was 53:12 something about this game. " 53:14 So finally I told him the truth. I said: "Man, I had seen that 53:18 game before. " He said: "You dirty rascal, you! " 53:22 "So you already knew the end? " I said: "Yeah, I did. " 53:25 But that's why I didn't change sides... 'cause I knew the end. 53:30 Well you already figured that one out, didn't you? 53:33 We are down at the end. 53:35 There are some folk who don't know what the end 53:37 is going to be. But you and I have looked in this book, 53:41 we have read about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 53:45 and we know how this game is going to end. 53:48 Amen! We know that this church will go out in a blaze 53:52 of victory because things are going to be changed 53:56 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 53:58 So what I want to say to you is 54:01 don't change sides now. Amen! 54:04 Stay on God's side. 54:06 It may seem like we're not going to win 54:08 but we know the end of the story. 54:10 We've already read it. 54:12 And I want to stay right in this church where I belong 54:15 and hold my spot. 'Cause if I leave it 54:19 somebody else might come and take it. 54:21 I'm going to stay right here. 54:23 And I don't just have a feeling... I've got facts. 54:26 God has planned for a victorious ending 54:30 to this story of the great controversy. Amen! 54:34 This thing is going to be glorious... 54:36 marvelous in our eyes. But if you leave now 54:41 or change sides now you'll never experience it. 54:45 I urge you not only to be here but to be part of it. 54:49 We know we're going to win. 54:52 It may seem like we're outnumbered all the time 54:56 but when the Holy Spirit falls in the Latter Rain power 55:00 we're not going to be in the minority any more 55:02 'cause the Holy Spirit is a majority by Himself. 55:05 Amen! And all He needs us to do is 55:08 to stay on His side, stay on God's side, 55:11 and we'll be part of a victory that nobody will ever forget. 55:16 And I'm going to stay right here. I'm not as agile as 55:21 I used to be, my voice isn't as strong, 55:24 but I'm going to do whatever I can do 55:26 and stay in my place and stay on my job 55:29 'cause I know what's about to happen. 55:32 Don't you know? Haven't you read the whole story? 55:35 Amen! Do you know what kind of victory we're about to have? 55:38 We're about to have a victory that nobody else could ever 55:41 imagine. And all we've got to do is stay faithful to God 55:45 and pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Latter Rain 55:49 power and we're going to see an amazing victory. 55:52 Your neighbors who thought you were crazy 55:55 because you went out on Saturday morning instead of Sunday 55:58 they're not going to laugh any more - Amen! - 56:03 because the Holy Spirit is going to change the story. 56:06 And all of a sudden your neighbors who thought 56:09 you were a little bit addle- brained are going to figure out 56:12 that you knew something that they didn't know. 56:15 You knew about a power that they had never met. 56:19 But friends of mine, when the Holy Spirit's power 56:22 is poured out upon this church 56:24 we're going to see some amazing things happen. 56:27 We're going to see hundreds, we're going to see thousands 56:30 of people brought to Christ. 56:32 And they're going to learn about the holy Sabbath 56:35 and keep it with joy. 56:38 I remember the times we used to be sitting around wondering 56:41 which big preacher would join our church 56:43 and that would be the power. 56:46 And you know one name that we always talk about. 56:49 "I heard he's going to join the church, 56:52 and when he does, things are going to change for us. " 56:55 Well I've got news for you: no big-time preacher 56:58 needs to join this church 'cause we've already got the power. 57:02 Amen! And it will not come from some popular preacher. 57:08 It's going to come from the Holy Spirit. 57:10 The Holy Spirit can do this thing with His own power. 57:14 And He will! And all He needs us to do 57:17 is to do our part. Amen? Amen! 57:21 How many of you will just raise your hand today and say 57:23 and say: "I'm willing to do my part. " 57:25 Amen. Praise God. I don't see one hand that's not raised. |
Revised 2022-05-10